Creates the Campaign Finance Reform Task Force to study and recommend changes in the statutory system of financing campaigns for Illinois elective offices.
Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Under specified circumstances, allows for a maximum of 5 additional charter schools exclusively for truants or dropouts in Chicago if the limit on the number of charter schools that may operate at any one time in the rest of the State has not been reached. Provides that if any of the additional charter schools are not used exclusively for truants or dropouts, then the State Board of Education shall withhold and the charter school shall forfeit all State funding designated for that school.
Creates the Campaign Finance Reform Task Force to study and recommend changes in the statutory system of financing campaigns for Illinois elective offices.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that an electric utility must establish a net metering program for its retail customers that own and operate facilities or equipment that utilize renewable energy resources installed on their premises. Provides that the net metering program shall have a maximum program limit of either 0.1% of the utility's previous year's peak demand (measured in kilowatts (kW)), or 100 kW, whichever is greater. Provides that a utility that seeks an alternative maximum program limit, adjusted as either higher or lower, shall request and obtain approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission prior to implementing any other program limit. Provides that a utility may expand eligibility in its net metering program to other energy conversion technologies and shall identify those other technologies it seeks to include in the program and receive approval from the Commission prior to expanding eligibility. Provides that the program shall be open for customer enrollment for a period of at least 5 years and customers that enroll shall be eligible to continue their participation for a period of at least 10 years. Provides that a participating customer may terminate his or her participation in the program at any time for any reason. Provides that an electric utility shall report the results of its program to the Commission by July 1, 2009 and that the Commission shall provide a summary and an analysis of the reports to the General Assembly no later than October 1, 2009. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Provides that services provided, under the program established by the Department on Aging to prevent unnecessary institutionalization of persons age 60 and older in need of long term care or who are established as persons who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, shall be consumer directed and client focused. Effective immediately.
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates the utility energy efficiency program. Provides that each public utility shall implement a program to be called the utility energy efficiency program, that shall: (1) allow a residential electric utility customer to receive home inspections and air conditioning cycling programs with no up-front payments; and by paying reasonable costs associated with the energy efficiency program; and (2) provide information on each billing statement about the program, including contact information for enrolling in the program, and the utility must post information about the energy efficiency program on its website. Requires public utility to submit to the Illinois Commerce Commission its plan for the energy conservation program by January 1, 2008. Provides that beginning July 1, 2009, each public utility shall submit an annual report to the Commission detailing (1) the number of customers enrolled in the program; (2) the amount estimated to be conserved by the program; and (3) estimated costs saved by residential customers. Provides that the Commission shall compile the information by the utilities, assess the progress of the program, and report its findings to the General Assembly. Provides that the Commission shall adopt all rules necessary for administration of this pilot project. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. In a Section concerning the alternative general homestead exemption, extends the option for a county to be subject to the alternative exemption by an additional 3 years. Provides that the base year for counties other than Cook County is the 2005 or 2006 tax year. Provides that the maximum amount of the exemption is $40,000 if the general assessment year for the property is 2006 or later. Sets forth requirements for a county to elect or continue to operate under the provisions of the alternative general homestead exemption. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately
Appropriates $350,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for the purposes of the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act. Effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that no tax is imposed under the Acts upon the use or purchase of energy-efficient products that qualify as an "Energy Star" products under the federal Energy Star Program and that are purchased at a price of $1,500 or less during a tax holiday. Defines "tax-holiday" as the periods each year: (1) beginning at 12:01 a.m. on November 1st and continuing through 11:59 p.m. on November 7th; and (2) beginning at 12:01 a.m. on April 22nd and continuing through 11:59 p.m. on April 28th. Sets forth criteria for transactions to qualify for the exemption. Effective immediately.
Amends the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the trustees of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Trust shall distribute up to $2,000,000 each calendar year to applicants and programs that promote or implement energy efficiency or conservation programs in the State for 3 calendar years after the effective date. Provides that the trustees shall adopt rules necessary for implementation of the provisions. Effective immediately.
